Nicholls president leaves many changes

Nicholls State University president Stephen Hulbert stands next to his portrait Tuesday on the college's campus.

Abby Tabor/Staff

Sydni DunnStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 7:04 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 7:04 p.m.

Whether he is remembered for being an outspoken leader passionate about higher education or for walking his pug around campus, Stephen Hulbert's legacy as president will live on at Nicholls State University.

Hulbert, who has been the college's top leader for 10 years, is now officially retired. Today, Hulbert, his wife, Becky, and their dog Max will pack a few last items into their “Nicholls red” Nissan Frontier and drive to their new home in Arizona.

In the rearview mirror will be a decade's worth of accomplishments and crises, from new degree programs and facilities to financial shortfalls and hurricanes. There will also be friends who welcomed and helped them, as well as slew of Cajun delicacies they will crave.

“I joke that I only stayed for the oysters,” he added, with a laugh. “I'm a fanatic.”

Hulbert, a native of Massachusetts and self-described “damn Yankee,” moved to Thibodaux in 2003 from Montana where he was chancellor of the University of Montana-Western.

“The consultant called and asked me if I had ever heard of Nicholls State University, asked if I knew about the Bayou Region,” he said. “I said, ‘no' and ‘no.' I applied in a blind way, but for Becky and Steve Hulbert, we could not have found a more wonderful place to spend our last 10 years in higher education.”

Hulbert's presidency has been marked by change, said Larry Howell, Nicholls interim president and executive vice president and provost. “He is the best thing that has happened to Nicholls State University.”

When he first arrived, the administration didn't know what to expect, Howell said.

“He showed up with no agenda,” Howell said. “He wanted to learn where the rocks were before he plowed the field.”

Hulbert surveyed the campus landscape and tuned in to the needs of the region, said Allayne “Laynie” Barrilleaux, vice president for academic affairs. He also made himself visible and approachable to all students and faculty.

“That's one reason he would walk Max all over campus,” Barrilleaux said, noting Hulbert bought Max as a puppy when he began his presidency. “People can be afraid to approach a university president, but most aren't afraid to approach a dog.”

Hulbert also reached out to Fletcher Technical Community College, initiating Nicholls' now-strong relationship with the school, said Fletcher's Chancellor Travis Lavigne.

“The commissioner of higher education at the time asked that I talk to Hulbert,” Lavigne recalled. “July 1 came around, and he was here, so I called and asked if I could meet him. He said, ‘No, I want to come to your office.' That was really unusual. A university president wanted to come to my office? I thought, ‘Gee, I wonder how this will work out.'”

Hulbert toured Fletcher's campus, went back to Lavigne's office and posed two questions: “Where will you put students now that you're becoming a technical college?' And ‘How can I help?'”

The two campuses have since shared resources, jump-started cross-enrollment classes and maintained a seamless transfer system, Lavigne said.

That partnership is among the many gains the university has made under Hulbert's reign, Howell said. One of the most influential was the move from open to selective admissions.

In 2005, the university began accepting only students who had completed the TOPS curriculum, scored at least a 20 on their ACT or held more than a 2.5 GPA. Its enrollment dropped, which meant less revenue, but in the long run, it has paid off.

The university is now graduating more students than ever before, he said. It is also expanding and adding degree programs, including some completely online.

While building a better academic environment, Hulbert also upgraded the physical campus under the idea that “second-rate facilities are hard to attract first-rate students,” Howell said.

In the last decade, the university has seen three new residence halls, apartments, a cafeteria, a recreation center and countless facility upgrades, including the installation of wireless Internet across campus.

“Hulbert will be known as the person that made the campus modern and a place parents want to send their children,” Barrilleaux said. “He also established a culture that is open and transparent, one where there's communication.”

But Hulbert wouldn't take all of the credit — or any, really — for the university's accomplishments. He said the entire Nicholls family made it possible.

“Faculty, staff and friends of the university have worked incredibly hard to keep Nicholls the strong university it is,” he said, “especially during the last six years of financial chaos.”

Hulbert, who is known for being vocal about the state's financial woes, said years of budget cuts have done “serious damage” to Louisiana's higher education, and in some ways, to his morale.

“In February, as I was thinking all of this over, I realized I have done what I can,” he said. “In some ways, my frustration and anger over what Baton Rouge has done, I thought, would hurt Nicholls. I've never told anyone that before.”

Though he will be glad to trade university budgets for more family vacations and time with his grandson, he said he will deeply miss his job.

“Whoever is fortunate enough to be selected to be the next president of Nicholls State University is getting a unique opportunity,” he said. “I love this university.”

Asked what his fondest memories were, he said they're all related to the people.

“When I came here, I didn't know what a Cajun was,” he said. “I came to find out Cajuns are special people. I've talked about them being hard-working, disciplined and resilient, and that shows itself in the Nicholls staff and faculty. Everything that is good about Nicholls is a result of the people. You find wonderful people everywhere, but this is just a unique situation that I have never experienced.”

<p>Whether he is remembered for being an outspoken leader passionate about higher education or for walking his pug around campus, Stephen Hulbert's legacy as president will live on at Nicholls State University.</p><p>Hulbert, who has been the college's top leader for 10 years, is now officially retired. Today, Hulbert, his wife, Becky, and their dog Max will pack a few last items into their “Nicholls red” Nissan Frontier and drive to their new home in Arizona.</p><p>In the rearview mirror will be a decade's worth of accomplishments and crises, from new degree programs and facilities to financial shortfalls and hurricanes. There will also be friends who welcomed and helped them, as well as slew of Cajun delicacies they will crave.</p><p>“I joke that I only stayed for the oysters,” he added, with a laugh. “I'm a fanatic.”</p><p>Hulbert, a native of Massachusetts and self-described “damn Yankee,” moved to Thibodaux in 2003 from Montana where he was chancellor of the University of Montana-Western.</p><p>“The consultant called and asked me if I had ever heard of Nicholls State University, asked if I knew about the Bayou Region,” he said. “I said, 'no' and 'no.' I applied in a blind way, but for Becky and Steve Hulbert, we could not have found a more wonderful place to spend our last 10 years in higher education.” </p><p>Hulbert's presidency has been marked by change, said Larry Howell, Nicholls interim president and executive vice president and provost. “He is the best thing that has happened to Nicholls State University.”</p><p>When he first arrived, the administration didn't know what to expect, Howell said.</p><p>“He showed up with no agenda,” Howell said. “He wanted to learn where the rocks were before he plowed the field.”</p><p>Hulbert surveyed the campus landscape and tuned in to the needs of the region, said Allayne “Laynie” Barrilleaux, vice president for academic affairs. He also made himself visible and approachable to all students and faculty.</p><p>“That's one reason he would walk Max all over campus,” Barrilleaux said, noting Hulbert bought Max as a puppy when he began his presidency. “People can be afraid to approach a university president, but most aren't afraid to approach a dog.” </p><p>Hulbert also reached out to Fletcher Technical Community College, initiating Nicholls' now-strong relationship with the school, said Fletcher's Chancellor Travis Lavigne.</p><p>“The commissioner of higher education at the time asked that I talk to Hulbert,” Lavigne recalled. “July 1 came around, and he was here, so I called and asked if I could meet him. He said, 'No, I want to come to your office.' That was really unusual. A university president wanted to come to my office? I thought, 'Gee, I wonder how this will work out.'”</p><p>Hulbert toured Fletcher's campus, went back to Lavigne's office and posed two questions: “Where will you put students now that you're becoming a technical college?' And 'How can I help?'”</p><p>The two campuses have since shared resources, jump-started cross-enrollment classes and maintained a seamless transfer system, Lavigne said. </p><p>That partnership is among the many gains the university has made under Hulbert's reign, Howell said. One of the most influential was the move from open to selective admissions.</p><p>In 2005, the university began accepting only students who had completed the TOPS curriculum, scored at least a 20 on their ACT or held more than a 2.5 GPA. Its enrollment dropped, which meant less revenue, but in the long run, it has paid off.</p><p>The university is now graduating more students than ever before, he said. It is also expanding and adding degree programs, including some completely online.</p><p>While building a better academic environment, Hulbert also upgraded the physical campus under the idea that “second-rate facilities are hard to attract first-rate students,” Howell said. </p><p>In the last decade, the university has seen three new residence halls, apartments, a cafeteria, a recreation center and countless facility upgrades, including the installation of wireless Internet across campus.</p><p>“Hulbert will be known as the person that made the campus modern and a place parents want to send their children,” Barrilleaux said. “He also established a culture that is open and transparent, one where there's communication.”</p><p>But Hulbert wouldn't take all of the credit — or any, really — for the university's accomplishments. He said the entire Nicholls family made it possible.</p><p>“Faculty, staff and friends of the university have worked incredibly hard to keep Nicholls the strong university it is,” he said, “especially during the last six years of financial chaos.”</p><p>Hulbert, who is known for being vocal about the state's financial woes, said years of budget cuts have done “serious damage” to Louisiana's higher education, and in some ways, to his morale.</p><p>“In February, as I was thinking all of this over, I realized I have done what I can,” he said. “In some ways, my frustration and anger over what Baton Rouge has done, I thought, would hurt Nicholls. I've never told anyone that before.”</p><p>Though he will be glad to trade university budgets for more family vacations and time with his grandson, he said he will deeply miss his job.</p><p>“Whoever is fortunate enough to be selected to be the next president of Nicholls State University is getting a unique opportunity,” he said. “I love this university.”</p><p>Asked what his fondest memories were, he said they're all related to the people.</p><p>“When I came here, I didn't know what a Cajun was,” he said. “I came to find out Cajuns are special people. I've talked about them being hard-working, disciplined and resilient, and that shows itself in the Nicholls staff and faculty. Everything that is good about Nicholls is a result of the people. You find wonderful people everywhere, but this is just a unique situation that I have never experienced.”</p>